Djokovic overcomes Alcaraz and injury in epic quarter-final: Australian Open LIVE

Carlos Alcaraz says he will leave the Australian Open with his “head up” after taking pride in his performance against Novak Djokovic.

“I’m playing great, great matches,” he said. “I mean, every time that we play against each other, I think it’s a guarantee.

“We push us to the limit, each other. I think we’ve played great points, great rallies. It was really tight the third, the fourth set. I mean, the whole match, I guess.

“I’m just lucky to live this experience. I’m 21 years old. From these matches, I’m getting so much experience about how to deal with everything. I’m not going to hide.

“I’ve done great things in tennis already, but playing against one of the best in history of our sport, these kind of matches help me a lot in the future to be better.

“I’m just happy to be able to live this experience. It’s great hearing those words from someone who played historic matches and achieved historic things.

“I’m leaving here Australia with the head up. I’m really happy about hearing those words from Novak.”

Carlos Alcaraz admits he thought his quarter-final with Novak Djokovic was going to get “easier” when he saw his opponent was struggling with injury.

“When you are seeing someone that is struggling physically a little bit, it’s kind of you not playing the same level,” Alcaraz said.

“It seems like, okay, it’s going to be easier. At the same time in your mind you’re thinking, like, Okay, I have not to make mistakes.

“Probably you’re not hitting the ball at the same way that you’re hitting before. I think that’s it.

“I think he did great, great hits, great shots. He started to play more aggressively, try not to move so much in the second set.

“He made few of them, which make him stay up in the set, break up, or stay up. After that, as I said, it was really difficult to overcome that, and I’m playing better than him.”

In his press conference, Carlos Alcaraz admits he should have pushed Novak Djokovic harder in the second set while the 37-year-old was stuggling with injury.

“Honestly, I felt like I was controlling the match, and I let him get into the match again. I’m going to say that’s was the biggest mistake that I made today.

“In the second set I had to play a little bit better just to push him even more to the limit. He had issues just moving a little bit in the second set. I had to push him a little bit more just to the limit, and I didn’t.

“After that, I think he started to feel better and playing such a great level. That was my biggest mistake today.

“But obviously when Novak is at this level, it’s really difficult. I think I had my chances. It was a really close match.

“I think most of the crucial points went to his side. When Novak is playing at this level, it’s really difficult to find the way.”

Novak Djokovic has revealed that he was almost forced to retire from his “epic” quarter-final win over Carlos Alcaraz at the Australian Open.

Djokovic secured victory in a thrilling last eight clash in four sets, fighting back from a set down while battling an injury.

The 24-time grand slam champion took an injury timeout at the end of the first set as Alcaraz nudged in front and appeared in severe discomfort, but roared back to take the match in a vintage performance.

But the 37-year-old Serb contemplated not continuing at all as Alcaraz threatened to build a two-set advantage, with only his resurgence in levelling the match encouraging him to keep playing.

Djokovic made a joke in his on-court interview that he has an agreement with Alexander Zverev that he always beats him at the grand slams.

And he’s not wrong: Djokovic has won their three previous matches over best-of-five sets, including in the Australian Open quarter-finals in 2021.

He leads the head-to-head 8-4, but their last meeting came in 2021 at the ATP Finals. Zverev’s biggest win over Djokovic came in the Olympic semi-finals that year, when they met five times.

Novak Djokovic, speaking to Eurosport, about playing through injury to beat Carlos Alcaraz:

“You don’t want to be playing with an injury, but you have to adapt to the circumstances and whatever you are facing on the court. It’s not the first time for me, here in 2021 and 2023 I had similar things. I played some of my best tennis after that. I have an extra day off and hopefully that will help.

“Once the body cools down, I will know what the reality is. It has been one of the best battles and matches that I have played on any court. I had to do better than I have done the entire tournament. I don’t know how I got out of that trouble towards end of the fourth set and I’m just super pleased to get through.”

Novak Djokovic is now through to his 50th grand slam semi-final, and his 12th Australian Open semi-final.

He’s only lost one Australian Open semi-final, and that was last year to Jannik Sinner. Usually when he reaches this stage, he wins the tournament.

A 25th grand slam title, which would give him the outright singles record, remains possible.

Djokovic stops his interview when he sees his kids are still on court at 1am local time!

“In 2023 I had a similar injury and carried it from the start of the tournament, I had to go for my shots more and sometimes it helps. We are so nervous on the court, we are going through emotional turmoil. Any point can shift the momentum, especially against a champion like Carlos.

“It was unfortunate what happened to me. But comparing it to 2023, it does help mentally. You have to play a bit more aggressive, I guess that is going to be necessary for me ahead of playing Zverev in the semi-finals.

“The key is recovery for me now. The extra day has come at a perfect time for me at the tournament. Let’s see if it’s going to be good enough on Friday. We have an agreement, as long as I keep playing he is going to let me win grand slam matches.”

“Since I am still in the tournament, I don’t want to reveal too much. The medication started to kick in.

“They helped, no doubt. I had to take another dose. If I’d lost that second set, I don’t know if I’d have continued playing.

“I felt better and better and managed to play a great couple of games at the end of the second set.

“Then I saw that Carlos was hesitant a little bit at the back of the court and I took my chances, started to feel better and move better.

“It didn’t bother me or create any hindrance towards the end of the match. When the medication starts to release, I’ll see what the reality is tomorrow morning.

“Right now I am just trying to be in the moment and enjoy this victory.”

How on earth did Novak Djokovic win that? How did he find his best level at the grand slams, in over a year, after taking a medical timeout and struggling with injury in the first set?

Let’s ask him. He’s talking to Jim Courier on court.

“With my two legs and two arms, I guess. Or one and a half legs.

“First, I want to say my utmost respect and admiration for Carlos and everything he stands for and has achieved so far in his career.

“What a terrific guy he is and an even better competitor, the youngest No 1 in the world in history, four grand slams.

“I’m sure we are going to see a lot of him. He’s going to be there for sure longer than me. I just wish that this match today was the final, honestly.

“I don’t know if Sacha Zverev is still awake and watching this. One of the most epic matches that I’ve played on any court.”